CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 43, 12 August 1892, Page 27

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) Mb M. Nolan delivered in the Literary Society's rooms on Tuesday night last a most interesting lecture on " Th« episode of Canossa ; what led to it, and came of it." Mr R. Dobbin occupied the chair, and the Rev Fathers Bell and Foley (of Timaru) also the Rev Bros Joseph and Basil were present. There was a fair attendance of members and their friends, and several ladies honoured the meeting with their presence. Mr Nolan said that what had been spoken in this city in recent theological debates and lectures had convinced him that Catholics could not employ their spar* time better than to study the splendid literature of their Church. Than the history of the Catholic Church there is perhaps no other reading in the present age more interesting, more necessary, and more prodnctive of solid good. Many critics and platform orators represent usually the Papacy as an institution that has grown and prospered on the ignorance and snper* Btition of the so-called Dark Ages. These speakers and writers say that knowledge and education are the talisman which dispersed the supposed occult mysteries and subtletieß of the Church and induced people to throw off her yoke and bondage. He refuted these and a multitude of similar charges, and revealed the true state of society and of the Church, and showed the real character of the Popes, especially during the Middle Ages. In those days, he said, kings were for the most part tyrants and despots, who set but little value on the lives of their subjects, and the Popes saved Europe, perhaps the world, from barbarism. He contrasted the resolute and virtuous character of Pope Gregory VIII., named Hildebrand, with the tyrannical and depraved Henry IV., Emperor of Germany, and related the event of the Emperor's penance at Canoesa. Many persons present expressed themselves highly •dified with the discourse, and a vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer, who promised, when replying, shortly to favour the society with another address on what is known in history as " The war of investures." A marriage took place at the pro-Cathedral on Monday last The Rev Father Cummings, V.G., officiated. The contracting parties were Mr W.Courtney, youngest son of Mr J. J. Courtney, Ferry road, and Miss Hughes of Bydenham. The Misses Peterson were the bridesmaids, and Mr W. Hay ward performed the duties of best man. After the wedding dinner the newly-married couple left the city for Oxford, where they intend to spend their honeymoon. With much regret I record the death of John Joseph Cook, gardener. Tbis sad event happened in the 56th year of his age and on Thursday evening last. The deceased, who was an honoured member of the congregation at the pro-Cathedral, was born at Seithfield, Surrey, England, and arrived in this Colony about eighteen years since. But be and his family, which consists of a wife, who is a native of Ireland, and two daughters, have resided for four years in this city at his late residence in William street. Mr Cook was formerly a Baptist, but since bis conversion to the Catholic faith, which happy event took place over twenty-three years ago, he had been distinguished for a steady attachment to the Church, for a deep and modest piety, and for an especial devotion to onr Bleased Lady, During the early part of the present week he appeared cheerful and in good health, but he was somewhat suddenly seized with an acute attack of inflammation, of the lungs, to which malady he succumbed after a short illness of three days. The Rev Father Oummings, V.G., attended him during bis sickness, and he was conscions to the end, and died in a most edifying manner in about an hour after the reception of the Last Sacraments. Indeed, his family had scarcely finished saying the usual prayers for the sick when they had to begin to recite the office for the dead. His funeral, which was largely attended, took place on Sunday afternoon last at the public cemetery at the sandhills. Father Cummiogs officiated in the church ani at the giave where he delivered an appropriate address. — R.I.P, Mrs Hayward cf Sumner, and her niece, Miss Harrington, had the misfortune to sustain a somewhat serious accident on Sunday last, opposite Mr O'Connor's book depot. The two ladies, who were in a trap, and on their way to attend High Mass at the pro-Cathedral were violently thrown from the vehicle into the concrete channel alongside the footpath. A boy, who made a noise with a stick on the iron fence that surrounds the convent grounds, is said to have made the horse shy and thus to have occasioned the accident, Both

the unfortunate ladies were at once conveyed into Mr O'Connor's house and Dr Guthrie was immediately sent for. Mrs Hay wood was not only severely shaken but was also injured in the back and spine' , and as her medical attendant said that he would not be responsible tt|r her life, were she at once conveyed horns, she wan subsequently Twnoved to Mr J. J. Courtney's house on the Ferry road, where she now remains. It is pleasing to have to record that she is progressing favourably, and likely, notwithstanding her age, soon to completely recover. Miss Harrington was more fortunate and escape 1 with a severe shaking and a slight bruise on one arm. His Grace Archbishop Bel wood, his Lordship Dr Grimes, and Dr Egan, who arrived at the Presbytery from Dunedin on Thursday last, were on the same day entertained at the convent by the pupils with a vocal and instrumental programme, which was most artistically executed. A glance at the programme will show that much Us l e bad been exercised in its arrangement, and that none but good and appropriate selections had been chosen. An address was also read to his Grace, to which he replied suitably. The pupils of the Marist schools also read an address of welcome to the Archbishop, and entertained him with an attractive programme of songs and recitations. The episcopal party, accompanied by the Rev Father Cummings, proceeded on Friday morning last to Mount Magdala, where High Mass was celebrated. His Grace and suite visited, on the same day, the Bey Father Purton at Port Lyttelton, when another concert took place, and an address was read to His Grace, who left the Port at 1 p.m. of the same day for Wellington. People appear to understand fully the great importance of planting trees, and Arbor Day seems to have been fairly well celebrated in many places in the colonies. The inhabitants of the seaside resort, New Brighton, came noticeably to the fore in the movement on the receipt of a Government circular which rcqnested the various local bodies to celebrate \Arbor Day in a suitable manner. The services of Mr Murphy, who gave recently some practical instructions in the method of planting dunes, and recommended the sorts of trees to be planted thereon, were secured. A start was made from Oathedral square, whereat Mr Scott and a number of school pupils were assembled, and about 10 a.m. four tramcars left the city charged fully with passengers, trees, spades, and provisions. Meanwhile, gatherings in the township met, and many trees were planted, and cheers were given as each trea was placed in the ground. His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch honoured with his presence the seaBide planting celebration, and was greeted on his arrival with cheers. He planted a sweet chesnut tree, and expressed what pleasure he felt to take part in the proceedings, and congratulated the people of New Brighton on the rapid strides (hat the township was making. The New Brighton school children planted one thousand trees which Mr J. Suter had presented. Altogether three thousand trees were planted in and near the township. One and all seemed determined that next year's Arbor Day shall also be an important incident in the events of the year. Tree planting took place too at the Waltham school, at the High School on the Lincoln road and at Bhodes' Memorial Convalescent Home. Even the Maoris at the Kaiapoi pah observed the day as a close holiday, and planted a fence around their dwellings and trees about their settlement generally. A largely-attended meeting of farmers and others was held at Springston on Thursday night last to establish a central dairy factory, Mr J. Gammack occupied the chair, and introduced the business. The matter was fully discussed, and several speakers said that the time had come when farmers would be compelled to turn their attention to the factory system of buttermaking, as it was quite plain that before long there would be no hand-made butter in the market. Mr Murphy explained the working of a proposed central factory, and all advantages to be gained therefrom, provided it was fed by suitable creameries in the district wherein were a sufficient number of cows. Mr F. N. Meadows, secretary, who was present, received a large number of applications for shares, after which votes of thanks were accorded to Mr Murphy and to the chairman. A great word war on the land tax and kindred matters has during the past week been waged in the columns of the Ly ttelton Times between the Hon Mr John Holmes and Sir Robert Stout. Both have written long letters, and those of the gallant and belted knight are replete with socialism; gleaned, doubtless, from French newspapers, pamphlets, and reviews, and from soi-disant philosophical literature generally. Mr Holmes, who is a warm supporter of the Farmers' League, writes most able and just letters in reply. But who can argue a point with one so uncandid as is Sir Robert ? Proteus-like, Sir Robert will say and unsay, and dodge and wriggle to the end of the chapter.